First-aid kit



FIRST AID KIT Filed Marcus; 1944 FIG. 3 1-" 4o 32 s j 42 Z I Fl'G.5

B INVENTOR.

ROBERT R. SEATONv AT T0 Y Patented Mar. 12, 1946 FIRST-AID KIT Robert R. Seaton, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor of one-third to Alphonse W. Wehner, Cincinnati, Ohio, and one-third to Ruth Niebusch, Hamilton County, ()hio Application March 9, 1944, Serial No. 525,791

5 Claims.

ward fully extended accessible position over a work table.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in combination with said tape dispensing device for automatically shifting the rolls of tape from an accessible to an unaccessible position incident to closing of the first aid kit.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by the means described herein, and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a first aid kit embodying the present invention, showing the kit fully opened and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the kit taken between wall '28 and support member 32, looking toward the left between lines a and b of Fig. 1, with the roll of tape in a forward, fully extended position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the roll of tape in a partially retracted position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the roll of tape in a fully retracted position.

Fig. 5 is a modified form of a roll support member comprising a detail of the invention.

As disclosed in Fig. 1, the kit comprises a substantially rectangular fixed rear compartment I0, which includes a rear wall I I, a top wall I2. a bottom wall I3 and a pair of spaced parallel side walls I4. It will be observed that the depth of this compartment is equal to the width of top wall I2, and that the bottom and side walls extend or project forwardly therefrom, for a reason hereinafter more fully made apparent.

The front wall of the kit comprises a pair of panels or doors I 5, hingedly mounted one to each forward vertical edge of side walls M, by suitable means, such as hinges I6, Fig. 2. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, strip member ll of one of the front panels is adapted to overlappingly engage the other front panel at its adjacent edge when the panels are disposed in a closed position, in spaced parallelism with rear wall I I.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, each of panels I5 comprises the rear wall of a so-called wing compartment I8 which is secured to and carried by said panels. Each wing compartment may include a top panel I9, a bottom panel 20, and opposed side panels 2| and 22. If desired, the interior of the wing compartments may be subdivided by means of shelves 23 to provide a plurality of smaller subcompartments or pockets in which medical supplies, and the like, may be housed.

When the wing compartments are closed the bottom panels 20 overlie the forwardly projecting portion of bottom wall I3, side panels 2i abut against the forwardly projecting portion of side walls l4, side panels 22 are disposed in parallel adjacency and top panels I9 are disposed in the plane of top wall I2. Suitable latching means, not illustrated, may be provided for maintaining the wing-compartments in a closed condition against accidental and/ or unintentional opening.

The interiors of the fixed rear compartment and the wing compartments may be rendered ac-' cessible by swinging said wing compartments outwardly from a closed position into the open or fully extended positions disclosed in Fig. 1. It will be noted that when the kit is thus fully opened, side panels H of the wing compartments extend forwardly of, and comprise a continuation of side walls I4.

It will be observed that when the wing compartments are closed, their respective forward open faces are adjacentto and in communication with the forward open face of the rear compartment.

'A tray or work shelf 25 is hingedly secured to bottom wall I3 immediately in front of the rear compartment, in such a manner as to be swingable between a vertical or closed, and a horizontal or fully extended position. When disposed in a vertical position, the shelf comprises a common wall or partition member between the open faces of the wing compartments and the rear compartment. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the surface area of the work shelf is substantially equal to the area of the open face of the rear compartment whereby articles housed within the various pockets of the different compartments are precluded from being shifted from one compartment to another during those periods of time when the wing compartments are closed.

The work shelf likewise functions as a transverse reinforcing member for the kit when closed.

The work shelf is adapted to be lowered into a horizontal position, Figs. 1 and 2, after the wing compartments have been opened to fully extended positions, for providing a work table extending forwardly of the rear compartment and between the wing compartments. Shelf 25 is adequately supportedin a horizontal position by reason of contact with that portion of bottom wall-lS-which extends forwardly of hinge 26, by which the shelf is pivotally secured to the kit, It should be ob-" served that when the shelf is in a lowered position it assumes an obstructing relationship with and relative to the extended wing compartmentsthereby preventing accidental or unintentional movement of said wing compartments from extended to closed positions.

Rear compartment Ii] may be-sub-divided into a plurality of pockets, one of which may be designated as an adhesive tape compartment 2T defined by end walls 28, bottom wall l3 and upper wall 2%. Rolls of adhesive tape, denoted generally by the numeral 30, are mounted upon a common spindle or shaft 3|, the opposite ends of which are journaled in support members 32. Each support member includes a forward notch 34 and a rearward notch 35,- each of which is adapted to receive one end of the shaft or spindle 3E} The forward notches are disposedadjacent the forward edges of their respective support members for positioningrolls of tape forwardly of the rear compartment and overhanging the work shelf, as disclosed in Fig. 2. When-thus positioned the tape is easily accessible to the user of the kit.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the rear notches are disposed at an elevation somewhat lower than the forward notches, said notches being interconnected'by an inclined track- 3?. Likewise the rear edges 38 of the front notches are preferably inclined rearwardly at anangle of from 15 to 25 from horizontal, as illustrated. Such construction facilitates seating of shaft 3i therein when it isbeingshifted forwardly from the rear notch to the front notch. Such construction likewise permits the shaft tobe automatically lifted upwardly and out of theforward notches and onto tr-ack- 3i incident to Once the shaft has been'placednotch to the forward notch. When the-kitis being closed the rolls of tape will be-automatioally dis placed from the forward to the rearward'notches incident to movement of the workshelf-froinahorizontal to a vertical position.

With reference now to Fig. 5 it will be observed that a modified form of spindle or shaft supporting member includes an upper track elementt having a lower edge ti spaced above-the-forward upper edge 42 of support member 32' by a dimension substantially equal to the diameter of shaft 3 I. This construction prevents'theshaft orspindle from becoming disassociated' fromits support members incident to rough treatment of-thek-it: sincesurface M will limit the vertical travel of shaft or spindle 3|.

It should be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A first aid kit of the class described comprising a rear'fixed compartment, a work shelf pivotally mountedto the fro'ntof said compartment for controlling access thereto,' said shelf mounted for movement to a raised position for precluding access to said compartment and for movement to a lowered position for providing a worktable extending forwardly from said compartment, an adhesive tape compartment having therein a pair of laterally spaced support members, an adhesive tape roll-supporting shaft extending between said members with the ends thereof supported one by each of said members, each support member including forward and rearward shaft-receptive notches interconnected by a shaft supporting track member, said forward notch being disposed adjacent the forward portion ofthe tape compartment for projecting a roll of tape forwardly of said compartment and over said work shelf when'said shaft is seated in said notch, said rearward notch being disposed remote fromthe forward portion of the tape compartment by an amount sufilcientto'dispose a roll of tape entirely within said compartment and to the rear of said work shelf when said shaft is in said rear notch.

2. A first aid kit of the class described comprising a rear fixed compartment, a work shelf pivotally mounted to the front of said compartment for controlling access thereto, said shelf mounted for movement to a raised-position for precluding access to said compartment and for movement to a lowered position for providing a work table extending forwardly from said compartment, an adhesive tape compartment provided within said compartment, said tape compartment having. therein a pair of laterally spaced support members, an adhesive tape roll-supporting shaft extending between said members with the ends thereof supported one by each of said members, each support member includingforward and rearward shaft-receptive notches interconnected by a shaftsupporting'tr'a'ck member, said track member'inclined downwardly from the forward to'the rearward'notch of each supporting member, said forward notch being disposed adjacent the forwardpo'rtion of the tape compartment for projecting a rollof tape forwardly of said compartmentand'ov'er said'work shelf when said shaft is seated in said notch, said rearward notch being disposed remote-from theforward portion of the tape compartment-byanamount sufficient to dispose a'roll'of tape entirely within said compartment'and to the rear of said work shelfwhen said shaft is in said rear notch, said shaft adapted-"to be automatically displaced'from the forward notches onto the inclined track members work table ektendi rlg foiwaidly from saidcom pertinent, an'adhesivetape compartment providaseasoe ed within said compartment, said tape compartment having therein a pair of laterally spaced support members, an adhesive tape roll-supporting shaft extending between said members with the ends there-cf supported one by each of said members, each support member including forward and rearward shaft-receptive notches interconnected by a shaft supporting track member, said track member inclined downwardly from the forward to the rearward notch of each supporting member, said forward notch being disposed adjacent the forward portion of the tape compartment for projecting a roll of tape forwardly of said compartment and over said work shelf when said shaft is seated in said notch, the rear walls of said forward notches inclined rearwardly toward said inclined track member at an angle of l-25 from horizontal, said rearward notch being disposed remote from the forward portion of the tape compartment by an amount sufficient to dispose a roll of tape entirely within said compartment and to the rear of said work shelf when said shaft is in said rear notch, said shaft adapted to be automatically displaced from the forward notches onto the inclined track members when the roll of tape carried on said shaft is engaged by said work shelf incident to movement from a lowered to a raised position.

4. A first aid kit of the class described comprising a rear fixed compartment, a work shelf pivotally mounted to the front of said compartment for controlling access thereto, said shelf mounted for movement to a raised position for precluding access to said compartment and for movement to a lowered position for providing a work table extending forwardly from said compartment, an adhesive tape compartment provided within said compartment, said tape compartment having therein a pair of laterally spaced support members, an adhesive tape roll-supporting shaft extending between said members with the ends thereof sup-ported one by each of said members, each support member including forward and rearward shaft-receptive notches interconnected by a shaft supporting track member, said track member inclined downwardly from the forward to the rearward notch of each supporting member, said forward notch being disposed adjacent the forward portion of the tape compartment for projecting a roll of tape forwardly of said compartment and over said work shelf when said shaft is seated in said notch, said rearward notch being disposed remote from the forward portion of the tape compartment by an amount sufficient to dispose a roll of tape entirely within said compartment and to the rear of said work shelf when said shaft is in said rear notch, said shaft adapted to be displaced from said forward notches and be introduced rearwardly onto said inclined track portions when the rolls of tape mounted on said shaft are contacted by said work shelf as it is moved towards its raised position from a' lowered position, said shaft when positioned on said track members adapted to roll or gravitate down said members thence into engagement with said rearward notches.

5. A first aid kit of the class described comprising a rear fixed compartment, a work shelf pivotally mounted to the front of said compartment for controlling access thereto, said shelf mounted for movement to a raised position for precluding access to said compartment and for movement to a lowered position for providing a work table extending forwardly from said compartment, an adhesive tape compartment provided within said compartment, said tape compartment having therein a pair of laterally spaced support members, an adhesive tape roll-supporting shaft extending between said members with the ends thereof supported one by each of said members, each support member including a pair of spaced upper and lower track members, each of said lower track members inclined downwardly and rearwardly and having a forward and a rearward shaft-receptive notch disposed therein, said upper track being spaced from the forward end of said lower track by a dimension substantially equal to the diameter oi said shaft, said support members being located relative to said central compartment whereby rolls of tape mounted on said shaft when disposed in said forward notches will project forwardly from said central compartment and over said work shelf when in a lowered position, said rolls of tape being wholly disposed within said compartment and to the rear of said work shelf when said shaft is disposed in said rearward notches.

ROBERT R. SEATO'N. 

